James Andrew Duggar (born July 7, 2001) is the thirteenth child and eighth son of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar.
He is the brother of Joshua Duggar, Jana Duggar, John-David Duggar, Jill Dillard, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Vuolo, Joseph Duggar, Josiah Duggar, Joy-Anna Forsyth, Jedidiah Duggar, Jeremiah Duggar, Jason Duggar, Justin Duggar, Jackson Duggar, Johannah Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Jordyn-Grace Duggar, and Josie Duggar.
Early life[]
James as a baby
James Andrew Duggar was born on July 7, 2001, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar. He was the couple's thirteenth child, and they went on to have six more children after him.
Along with his siblings, James was homeschooled growing up. He and his siblings were raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, and regularly attended the yearly Advanced Training Institute conferences in Big Sandy, Texas. He took the test to get his GED in 2019, at seventeen years old, alongside his older brother Jason. His family had a graduation party to celebrate this event on July 15, 2019.
Like most children, James was assigned chores growing up, which the family called "jurisdictions". As of 2011, James's jurisdictions were cleaning the dining room and taking out the upstairs trash. As of 2014, James's jurisdiction was the pantry.
By 2001, James's parents had implemented a buddy system, where each older child was paired with a younger child to take care of. Typical tasks for an older buddy included dressing, bathing, and feeding their younger buddies. It is unknown who James's original older buddy was. By 2009, the family had switched from individual buddies to buddy teams, with each team being led by one of the oldest four daughters. James was on a team with older sisters Jill and Joy-Anna and younger sister Jennifer. This team has stayed particularly close over the years, despite two of the four members getting married and moving out.
James took piano lessons as a child, but it is unknown if these lessons were from the family's first piano teacher, Ruth Anita Anderson, or if his older siblings had taken over with the lessons by the time he was old enough to learn. James also took violin lessons as a child.
In 2006, as featured on the TV specials, James and his family moved into a new home in Springdale, Arkansas. The family made a point of doing much of the work on the house themselves, seeing it as a learning opportunity for their children. In this house, James was given a dormitory-style room with his brothers. James still lives in this house today.
In late 2009, after his sister Josie was born premature, James moved with his family into the Cornish House in Little Rock, Arkansas, to be closer to the Arkansas Children's Hospital. Once Josie was able to leave the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), James and his family moved back home.
In 2010, James was an extra in the film Courageous, which was released on September 20, 2011. Although, James did not make it into the film's final cut.
Thanks to the reality show, James was able to take a number of vacations as a child. Notable vacation locations include: Disneyland, New York City, Niagara Falls, Scotland, Ireland, London, Israel, China, and Japan.
On March 25, 2019, James began attending the IBLP's ALERT Academy with his brother Jason. They were members of Unit 61. On May 24, 2019, they completed their basic training.
In 2020, James earned his Commercial Driver's License.
James is described as a quiet guy until you really get to know him, having a great sense of humor, loving, helpful, a skilled operator of heavy equipment, and the rancher in the family. He enjoys cracking jokes, tinkering, sketching 3-D building designs, and cutting chainsaw art into tree trunks.
Career[]
Missionary work[]
James and his family go on a yearly mission trip to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras the week after Christmas.
Landscaping[]
In 2019, James started his own landscaping company, J+J Environmental Services in Springdale, Arkansas.
Disaster relief[]
James volunteers for MEDIC Corps, helping people around the world hit by natural disasters. He works alongside some of his siblings, in-laws, and some of the Bates brothers.
Pilot[]
James is currently in the process of obtaining his pilot's license. He obtained his student pilot's license on August 3, 2022.
Wedding involvement[]
James was the flower girl wagon puller at his brother Josh's wedding to Anna Keller on September 26, 2008.
He was a groomsman at his parents Jim Bob and Michelle's vow renewal ceremony in 2009.
He was the ring bearer and flower girl wagon puller, singer, and violinist at his family friend Priscilla Keller's wedding to David Waller on February 4, 2012.
He was a carpet roller at his sister Jill's wedding to Derick Dillard on June 21, 2014.
He was a groomsman at his brother Joseph's wedding to Kendra Caldwell on September 8, 2017.
He was a groomsman at his brother Josiah's wedding to Lauren Swanson on June 30, 2018.
He was a groomsman at his brother Justin's wedding to Claire Spivey on February 26, 2021.
He was a groomsman at his brother Jedidiah's wedding to Katelyn Nakatsu on April 3, 2021.
He was a groomsman at his brother Jeremiah's wedding to Hannah Wissmann on March 26, 2022.
